Albany Pride

General

Albany Pride, also known as the Albany Pride March, or Albany Pride Parade is an annual LGBTQ+ event that takes place in Albany, Oregon. This event is organized by Keith Kolkow, president of Albany Pride, a non-profit organization established in 2016. Although there are larger, more well-known pride events in other cities in Oregon, such as Portland, Kolkow wanted to ensure that members of the LGBTQ+ community in Linn County have access to pride events as well. Many individuals from nearby small towns, such as Lebanon and Sweet Home, also attend. The objective of Albany Pride is to show support and unity for the LGBTQ+ community in Albany, Oregon and surrounding areas.

The first Albany Pride March

Albany's first Pride March was on July 22, 2017. (Zawicki, 2017)

There were 550 confirmed marchers.

This event included representatives from the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Corvallis. One member is quoted expressing acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community by stating "Jesus had nothing to say about homosexuality and had very much to say about love." (Zawicki, 2017).

2018 festival

The 2018 parade was followed by a festival at Monteith Riverpark. This festival featured a drag show (Rimmel, 2018).

Speakers

In 2018, author and instructor at Linn-Benton Community College, Karelia Stetz-Waters, spoke at a pre-march rally in front of the Linn County Courthouse. In this speech, she expressed gratitude for the LGBTQ+ community at large and thanked participants for their activism.
Members of the Albany First Christian Church also spoke at start of the 2018 parade, expressing acceptance for people of all colors and orientations (Rimmel, 2018).

Organizers

Keith Kolkow, president of Albany Pride, is the primary organizer of this event. Details pertaining this event are posted on the official Albany Pride facebook page (Albany OR Pride).
In 2017, Jerred Taylor was cited as a co-organizer (Zawicki, 2017).